331
was the cause of her aversion to men?’ ‘Yes,’ answered the Vizier; and Ardeshir rejoined, saying, ‘O Vizier, by Allah, I have seen the whole dream pourtrayed in painting, as I had beheld it with mine eyes; but with a circumstance that was hidden from the princess, so that she saw it not, and it is upon this that I rely for the attainment of my desire.’ ‘And what is that, O my son?’ said the Vizier. Quoth the prince, ‘I saw that, when the male bird flew away and left his mate entangled in the net, a hawk pounced on him and slaying him, ate his flesh and drank his blood; and this was the cause of his failure to return and liberate her. Would that the princess had seen the whole of the dream and beheld, to the end, the story thereof!’ ‘By Allah, O august King,’ replied the Vizier, ‘this is indeed a rare and wonderful thing!’ And the prince ceased not to marvel at the picture and lament that the princess had not seen the whole of the dream, saying in himself, ‘Would she had seen it to the end or might see the whole over again, though but in the illusions of sleep!’
Then said the Vizier to him, ‘Thou saidst to me, “Why wilt thou repair the pavilion?” And I answered, “Thou shalt presently see the issue thereof.” And behold, now thou seest the issue thereof; for it was I did this thing and caused the painters pourtray the princess’s dream thus and paint the male bird in the hawk’s clutches, so that, when she comes to the pavilion, she will behold her dream depicted and see how the male pigeon was slain and excuse him and turn from her aversion to men.’ When the prince heard the Vizier’s words, he kissed his hands and thanked him, saying, ‘Verily, the like of thee is fit to be Vizier to the most mighty king, and by Allah, if I accomplish my desire and return to my father, rejoicing, I will acquaint him with this, that he may redouble in honouring thee and advance thee in dignity and hearken to thy word.’ The Vizier kissed his hand and they both
